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The Mountain With Its Head In The Clouds\xa0\n\nBen Nevis is the tallest mountain in the UK. Being only 1345m high you\u2019d think that would be nothing to brag about, but what the UK lacks in height it more than makes up for in elevation gain and most importantly: weather.\xa0\n\nIn hindsight, I\u2019ve had seeds sown all my life to adventure in the outdoors. I discuss this further on\xa0a podcast I featured on with Destinations Beyond Expectations. As I began to love hiking \u2013 which is continuously growing more and more \u2013 I decided to do the National Three Peaks in my own debut way. I\u2019d climb them in winter!\xa0\n\nWinter Is Coming\xa0\n\nIn summer, you just need to make sure you bring water and good boots for most of our mountains. In winter, it\u2019s a different situation.\xa0\n\nI know, it sounds a bit crazy to do something like this, right? Well, let me briefly explain before you listen how myself and my best friend \u2013 Dan \u2013 ended up doing this.\xa0\n\nI had climbed\xa0Snowdon successfully in December\xa0covered in\u2026 well, snow. I had reached the top of\xa0Scafell Pike through 60+mph winds solo in January. Finally, I had this date planned to go to Ben Nevis and tick the last one off.\xa0\n\nThen the forecast announced a storm was coming.\xa0\n\nThis completely changed everything.\xa0But not our decision to climb. Where I was packing a coffee flask, first aid, and a dry bag before, our kit list now grew more. We kept a close eye on the forecast the whole way through, keeping updated on everything. I checked the\xa0avalanche report\xa0daily and right up until we left I was checking the\xa0summit forecast, hourly at the end!\xa0\n\nI had already dealt with extremely high wind at Scafell Pike (the way down was worse!), so I knew what that would feel like. I had watched every YouTube video and read all the articles I could find to check out the route. We had spikes, safety kit, map\u2026 and an epic forecast. We were good to go!\xa0\n\nClimbing In A Storm\xa0\n\nA bit of an epic day would be an understatement.\xa0This experience was incredible! But we were safe (as I discuss, links below!) and everything went perfectly. Why? Because of the planning and preparation we put in place.\xa0\n\nThere is a lake at around 500m on the Mountain Track route. That\u2019s where the snow and wind really started to pick up.\xa0\n\nAfter this, there was a cover from the wind by a waterfall where we got our spikes on. Then it was the high winds, harder wind gusts, and just us two climbing to the top.\xa0\n\nWe hiked past so many people who were on their way down. Some due to the lack of visibility, some due to wind, some to snow.\xa0But Dan and I kept pushing on. At no point were we ever in any real danger as we had mitigated so much, and there are no knife edge routes on this popular yet long and strenuous route.\xa0\n\nJust before we did the summit push at around 1200m, we met the only other two people who had got that far. Thinking it a smart idea, we decided to stick together and move as a group, Storm Ciara taking our balance frequently.\xa0\n\nThings were\xa0very\xa0windy (80-90+mph gusts) with occasional white-outs on the way up. But we did it! I managed to get footage of some of the calmer moments, but the summit was different. One word: Epic \u2013 and I gave my self no option but to make sure I filmed it!\xa0\n\nDon\u2019t Be A Fool\xa0\n\nWhat I took away from this was my first proper lesson in mitigating risk, working hard, staying alert, and it paying off. We were back at the car and ready to set home just before the official yellow warning was put in place at 15:00.\xa0\n\nBut know your limits, and research as much as you can.\xa0\n\n4 \u2018hikers\u2019 had to be saved by 22 mountain rescuers sent out two days after us. They went out with no appropriate clothing, trainers, no crampons, no map etc. Please, even if it\u2019s the summer, take hiking seriously (but remember to smile!).\xa0\xa0\n\nI want to listen, now!\xa0\n\nListen on\xa0Spotify,\xa0Apple Podcasts,\xa0Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search \u201cBetween The Mountains\u201d!\xa0\n\nIf you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!\xa0\n\nIf you\xa0really\xa0enj